A Little Bit of This and That

It’s not the sound, just the members that are new to Against All Will.

To call them a super group would be a vast overstatement, but each member does have a relatively notable history. Lead guitarist and chief songwriter Jimmy Allen, formerly of Puddle Of Mudd, began Against All Will’s assembly in 2007. He is also the only member to remain in the outfit.

Since the band’s inception three other members have come and gone. In mid-2008 vocalist Jeff Current and bassist Cello Dias were added to the cast. Current was previously known as the singer for Seven Story Drop, a band not much different in form from Against All Will or any of the other band mates’ previous ensemble. Dias and 2011’s percussion addition, Phil Gonyea, came from agro-rock / metal groups, who’s edge is dulled in favor of Allen’s more radio friendly cash cow sound. Gonyea has yet to be tested as a member for the masses since there hasn’t been any other studio album releases by the band since 2009’s A Rhyme & Reason.

With no new releases since their debut, album Against All Will continue to promote the seven track LP, which appears more like a well-produced EP. Tim Harkins produced the whole record, who is known for his work with Puddle of Mudd, Queens of the Stone Age, Korn and an impressive list of other noteworthy groups.

Against All Will has developed a dedicated fan base, augmented by regular SiriusXM Radio play. “The Drug I Need” was a rereleased single in 2010 and made its way up the charts, peaking in SiriusXM’s Octane Top 10. With well-written lyrics like: “You can’t truly hate / something you’ve never loved,” supported by a huge hook and its radio friendly tempo. it’s guaranteed its immediate appeal and success.

“Discard You,” currently being offered as a free download via AAW’s website, may be the companion piece to “The Drug I Need.” The track outlines the dismantled relationship mentioned in the latter song, the one everyone knows is sick but can’t help returning too. Its lyrics run the manic gamut of emotions felt in the aftermath of a brake up, illustrated in, “I know this world / is gonna break your heart / everything around us / is falling apart / […] so let’s pretend / and I’ll never say a word. / I Discard You, I Discard You.”

Current’s performance is strong throughout as he utilizes a little rasp and intermittent grumbled spoken lines. With the exception for his shameless vibrato at the end of “All About You” his voice is a perfect match to lead the band.

The result of this unvaried concoction of bands, which all resemble some stage of Alice and Chains on a diet mixed with throatier Korn, is that their product resembles some stage of their former selves, i.e. more of the same.